There's been a ton of online speculation — and condemnation — today. When contacted for comment, Apple provided the following explanation to iMore:

"We take customer security very seriously and Error 53 is the result of security checks designed to protect our customers," an Apple spokesperson told iMore. "iOS checks that the Touch ID sensor in your iPhone or iPad correctly matches your device's other components. If iOS finds a mismatch, the check fails and Touch ID, including for Apple Pay use, is disabled. This security measure is necessary to protect your device and prevent a fraudulent Touch ID sensor from being used. If a customer encounters Error 53, we encourage them to contact Apple Support."

Is this a new problem?

Some of this isn't new. Back when the iPhone 5s introduced Touch ID for the first time, former iMore editor Ally Kazmucha discovered there was hardware based security at the component level. That way, if someone took possession of your iPhone they couldn't bypass the encryption and get at your data. In other words, to protect us from both big and little brother.

What is new is the iOS 9 update causing "error 53" which, in defense of those who've received it, is completely opaque. As the old saying goes, security is at constant war with convenience, and it looks like some new check put in place as part of iOS 9 generates that error when it can't verify that hardware security is still intact.

Why is this only affecting third-party repairs?

It can actually affect any repair. If an error occurs following an Apple or Apple-certified repair, though, they can swap out the device for one that works, you can restore from backup, and everything is fine. With third-party repairs, not so much.

There are some complaints that about repairs not involving Touch ID that also cause the problem, though it's tough to rule out accidental damage. If true, though, it's possible Apple may need to fix the process so only the security system, and the security system alone, can trigger an error. And, of course, provide a more human-understandable error.

Why can't I override the security check? It's my phone!

Some have asked for an override that would let an owner opt-out of the security check. Unfortunately, once a "back door" exists, it exists for everyone. It's one of those things where security and usability clash, and why "fail safe" and "fail secure" are two very different things.

In other words, if you can override it, someone with bad intentions could override it as well.

Shouldn't Apple warn people about this?

In theory, absolutely. In practice, how and when Apple could provide such a warning is tougher to figure out. Putting in on-screen as part of the on-boarding process is unwieldy and doesn't scale. Putting it in fine print on the paper inside would likely be as good as no warning at all.

So what should I do?

If you live near an Apple Store or an Apple-certified store, go there. If you don't, and you can mail your device to Apple, consider that option. If you have the error 53 problem, contact Apple support.

Reader comments

Apple comments on 'Error 53' failed security checks on iPhone

The apple explanation is very clear , if you encounter this E53 you have to call to Apple Support to resolve the problem , they have a very wide knowledge regarding this matter or probably they give instructions what we are going to do. Based on my experiences regarding my iPhones problem i call the Apple Support immediately to solve problems.

Here is a question. My son said his iPhone 6 would not charge. I noticed the connector not seating flush. There was lint from his pocket it the port. Do we drive two hours to the nearest Apple Store, or mail it to Apple to fix? I just took a plastic tool, and removed the lint. Charges fine now. That is a third party fix. Of corse I did not open the phone. There is an old saying when investigating anything. "Follow The Money" it is not about security. A new Touch ID/home button will not work for Touch ID with the individual chip that is in the particular phone, or will it? Again "Follow The Money." "Error 53" is not the best answer to what Apple thinks is a problem. You should do a iMore show about "Error 53," should be a good one.

So this error occurs when the device is tampered with via a third party repair? Why isn't this something that I as the user can verify? Allow me to enter my Apple ID or something basically saying "I acknowledge that my device was repaired at a third party and my information has not been compromised". And then I can get back to using my device?

This problem was detected about an year ago, I am an Itech (Icracked affiliate ) and we use the best quality certified parts (enables us to offer lifetime warranty) and we transfer key components that prevent for this error to happen!

Well , i might sound like an ***** when i say this but i'm completely fine with that error.
If ever was to lose my phone , i would be glad to know that the person who stole it or whoever finds it will never be able to use it or access my personal data even if they changed the touch id.
Add to this the "find my iphone" feature , this really makes me comfortable.

Due to the way it is coded, they would not be able to use Touch Id to infiltrate your phone regardless. The fingerprint that needs to be matched is not inside the sensor, and thus cannot be "magically stolen" simply by swapping out a sensor.

Think of it like this. I have a photo that I want you to match. You show me a photo. I say whether it passes or fails. You never get to see the photo I have in my hand (the "right" photo). Just because you swap out the camera doesn't mean you're any closer to matching my photo.

I have a feeling that this will eventually end up in Federal Court with a class action lawsuit. I'm sure we'll all see the adds on TV! That said, there is a real question here about the rights of ownership vs that of the manufacturer. On the other hand what if you are "leasing" the phone on a program like JUMP. If it really isn't your phone do you have the right to take it to a third party for repairs or does T-Mobile have the right to require you to inform them first so they can determine how and if it's repaired. I'm sure T-Mobile doesn't want a bricked leased phone back. I think their are a number of real legal issues here that will have to be sorted out. One thing for sure...I would be shocked if Apple backed down here and blinked.

@thx607
"We take customer security very seriously and Error 53 is the result of security checks designed to protect our customers," an Apple spokesperson told iMore. "iOS checks that the Touch ID sensor in your iPhone or iPad correctly matches your device's other components. If iOS finds a mismatch, the check fails and Touch ID, including for Apple Pay use, is disabled. This security measure is necessary to protect your device and prevent a fraudulent Touch ID sensor from being used. If a customer encounters Error 53, we encourage them to contact Apple Support."

Not a bug. This is intentional roadblock of third party repairs under the guise of security. If security was the issue the block would have been in place for the 5s. This is a for profit decision, nothing more.

I understand what Apple released publicly, and I don't dispute the cause of the error. What I dispute is that there some devious masterplan other then security "first" and then support 3rd party facilities second if at all". Apple will most likely, send a patch out that allows the phones to update with certain features disabled, like how it was before iOS 9. That specifically is what I'm calling the "bug" part as others have too.

The conclusion you reach in your second paragraph (that it's an intentional plot by Apple to screw third party repair shops) seems to have no relationship to the "evidence" you presented in the first paragraph (Apple's statement that it's an error and to contact them for help with it).

This is known in the common vernacular as, "Reading things in that aren't actually there." .

First - The Problem
Second - Mass speculation on how Apple is breaking our devices for profit.
Third - Release of bug fix to correct the issue.
Forth - Issue forgotten until the next time.

Look, Apple could very well be breaking our devices for profit. Tim Cook could be sitting behind his desk with a monocle on while thinking of new ways to screw us.

However, I choose to believe it's something far less sinister and will be fixed in a few days.

The fact that the error provides very little info seems to lend itself to a bug. If it was some sort of punishment by Apple to users that used a third party repair facility then the message would look more like a legal document and you would have scroll down to see exactly how you are being screwed.

You keep saying security is important to you and yet you post everything online. Error 53 is not Apples way of protecting you. They have been fighting a battle against small phone repair shops for years. From what I read a few years back, in New York they wanted to do something like this: if you're a repair shop and you have parts with the Apple logo on them(even if they are purchased from an OEM distributor from China, with all the paperwork) ICE could come in and basically take all those parts. I am currently using an Apple product so I'm not against them, nor am I a fan. If you have the money to spend on them, go for it, but YOU are the only one that has to suffer the consequences of your actions. It's not their fault you went to a local repair shop. It's not their fault you buy a product and don't have a certified store near you, you knew all this before you bought it. They are running a business, not a charity. They will always put profits over customers.

Wow, what a long con your local phone repair shop has been running. They open shop 5 years ago, pretending to repair phones, but actually biding their time, waiting for Apple to introduce a fingerprint reader, so that they can steal your fingerprint, a "secret" that you give away each time you touch something.

For once I have to agree with Apple on this. The TouchID is a critical component to insuring not just your iPhone, but your biometric security, ApplePay, and all sorts of authentication associated with it. It could be possible for someone to steal an iPhone swap out the TouchID and then you could by pass it all together.

It does cause a problem for users who do not have an Apple store local to them and in that case Apple should be offering some sort of repair/replacement option for damaged TouchID sensors or a way to have a central place in the US where repairs are done by Apple technicians, hey what an idea Apple could actually ADD JOBS IN THE US.

However there are times to take your car (the second most expensive item after a house) to a 3rd party mechanic for basic repairs and then there are times you really should see the dealer for the repairs to insure its done right and you don't end up paying twice.

Now that said I don't think Apple should be bricking devices, but they should offer some way to get it repaired without the bricking, but that would likely require you taking it into the Apple store and hopefully a flashing of iOS will resolve it with a corrected TouchID replacement.

Again, if the security aspect was the reason Apple locked the phone down it would have been done years ago when Touch Id was introduced. This has nothing to do with the security aspect although I do agree and understand that a legit touch id sensor is a must. Apple is not genuine about why phones are being bricked now, pure and simple.

See, right here is where the rubber hits the road: ...Apple's... true ... intentions. I do NOT believe they really cared about protecting the critical component of the TouchID to the FULL extent you think they did. If a swap out of the TouchID can compromise our "biometric security, ApplePay, and all sorts of authentication associated with it," then the very minute that phone is rebooted after a third party replaced the TouchID is when this "bricking" should occur. Right at THAT moment....to protect you...period! If, IF, that is why they did it. I don't like the bricking option as there are many other ways they could deal with it, but I DO care that whatever it is, it is instant.

It isn't instant, and a lot can happen between the time of the repair and when an iOS update occurs...compromising everything if truly in the hands of a thief. Since this protection isn't "instant", it is absolute proof that there is a lot more unsavory reasons behind it their logic. I get why it works the way that it does. I do NOT get why it doesn't work "immediately", nor why the entire phone has to be bricked without any way that Apple themselves can fix it if you can show proof that you purchased that specific phone with receipts (whether 3rd party or not,) that match the identification numbers within the phone. This is not savvy planning on designing the level of security Apple wants the world to believe they provide. Having any amount of time between repair/replacement by third party, and when the iOS actually catches it is unacceptable to any security conscious company.

Therefore, I am left with a sour taste in my mouth towards a company that previous to this topic, I have sung the praises of and passionately supported and defended. For a giant like Apple to take such petty steps (the bricking....months later and not immediately....) for the purpose of impacting the livelihood of the hardworking and very necessary after-market repair shops is a low blow and dishonorable. Used markets and repair shops exist for every single product, luxury or not. There are all sorts of financially strapped people in this world that never would have been pulled into the Apple market had it not been for the used market, because they can't afford it and they can't afford the typical Genius Bar pricing for out of warranty products. The used market has made it possible for the Apple brand to be exposed to more individuals than ever, and it created a lot of loyal fans to their brand after the use of their products.

I know this to be true personally. Once I got on my own feet financially, I stopped purchasing "used" apple products and began enjoying the MANY benefits that come with purchasing a brand new item and the associated Genius Bar repairs. This is all because I was able to purchase a 3GS, and then a 4S, used and out of warranty by a third party. I even had them both repaired at second-hand repair shops because I couldn't afford the Genius Bar. Since those years, I am financially more sound and have more resources. I have gone on to purchase 4 Macbook Pros, 2 iMacs, 11 additional iPhones (family of 5...), 2 iPads, and anything else of the Apple brand I can get my hands on. I was previously a Microsoft person and grew tired of the required amount of time I ended up spending protecting from viruses, ensuring ALL functions "worked", repairing and reformatting. Total time added up in a single year spent providing maintenance to a household with 2 PCs and 3 PC laptops exceeded 4 months!! After using an Apple laptop just one year, my total time for "maintenance" was 10 minutes, just 10 MINUTES! for an entire year. It was an update of the iOS. That's it. It just works ... and THAT is where that by-line came from.

So, stick with me here ... I am one person. Add up the cost of what I purchased full price from Apple over the past four years because I was able to discover their quality through the used market. Now multiply that by the thousands and thousands of other consumers like me. It's a pretty significant profit for Apple, all because the used, third-party market is an option. Notice how that option didn't keep me away from Apple and their "New" prices at all, but rather made me look forward to when I could one day afford it. Up until today, I defended Apple ruthlessly because of what I just explained. If the true reason behind the lack of "instant" bricking is what it sure looks like, they are flipping off the very market and third-party repair shops that they should be thanking. And I have to humbly admit to all on this thread that I may no longer have a good reason to defend Apple due to the obvious greed.

The bricking of the phone is overshot. There are many other options to protecting us if someone were to steal our phone and replace the TouchID. For one, when the iOS notices the mismatch, it could immediately (key word here...not 6 months later.....) lock down security features without bricking the phone. It could lock the phone out completely until Apple themselves can unlock it. Makes much more sense. They could lock out all apps and systems that previously relied on the TouchID, and require a backup security code (our previously used "Pins - Lock Keys - Whatever you call it",) for just using basic functions, but still require a visit to a Genus Bar to get back the functionalities that are locked out.

Well said. This guy gets it. There are many factors pointing to the fact this has nothing to do with the security of the end user. This slows used phone sales and drives repairs into the Apple store. Pure and simple.

Focus on the real problem: The fingerprint sensor should be validated when the phone starts up. You have to turn off the phone to replace the sensor. When it starts up it should be bricked. Not doing that causes two issues: First security. If swapping the fingerprint sensor is a security risk then then letting the phone run with a third party sensor exposes your data. Second, bricking a phone at a later date during an update means that used iPhones are time bombs. If someone had a broken home button they could just have it replaced and sell the phone as fully working and used to an unsuspecting buyer. Apple needs to address these issues with a software update.

I have no problem with this level of security, but Apple should have:
1. Informed its customers that 3rd party repairs of the touch ID or connecting ribbon would cause this, and
2. Be able to correct the issue in their repair facility once it occurs. From what I've read, not even Apple can unbrick the device once this happens, which is ridiculous.

I'm sure the Apple apologists will defend this as a "feature", not surprising.

All luxury brands strongly suggest that repairs be made with only oem parts. Auto makers BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and even domestic brands suggest it. They train their techs to perform repairs in proper order. Doing otherwise can damage the customer's product. It's sad that all those millions of careless iPhone breakers can't be bothered to take the consequences of their indifference to their **** near $1000 pocket computer before they break them.

Yes. There should be an Apple Store in every town. Like Starbucks. There should also be bigger pockets in girls jeans. And stronger glass. Maybe one day.

First, bear in mind that a lot of those OEM parts are very similar to the ones that third repairers and other OEMs use, (often they are only rebadged). Second, a significant proportion of the remainder are IDENTICAL to the ones that third parties use.
Thirdly quite often some of those third party replacements EXCEED the quality/specification set down by the OEM, in fact the bottle of synthetic oil I have here says on the side;
Exceeds Mercedes specification 229.31/229.51, (yes, EXCEEDS)
Lastly, are you serious? It’s got nothing to to with the brand being luxury. You sound like the kind of blinkered customer Timmy loves.
Be aware that the repair parts may be sub standard but don't assume it. Dang!

On one hand, I know this is for security as the security of an iOS device can be compromised by a bogus TouchID sensor in some cases.

On the other hand, completely bricking the phone is somewhat harsh IMHO. Maybe a little warning before an update or only disabling the TouchID functionality would have made more sense, to me anyway.

The real issue for me is what their customers and others think of this. Many feel that Apple is doing this to crack-down on third-party repair shops and feel that Apple is trying to monopolize the repair of their devices. Now, I am not saying that's the case, but the bottom line I'm trying to make is that from the statements above, it looks like Apple may have left a real bad taste in the mouths of affected users.

As for me, the sensor on my iPad Pro is fine, but if it fails, you'd better believe me when I say it's going to the Genius Bar.

I posted this as a question in the forums, but re-posting here to get an opinion from the readers of this post as well:

So, as the web is heating up with news of Error 53 on iPhone, I find myself in a little bit of a turmoil. Let me explain:

Last night I found myself guiding my sister-in-law towards purchasing her next phone, which we concluded to be the iPhone 6S Plus. I myself currently own a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge phone and decided on a switch to the iPhone 6S Plus as well. We're supposed to head out to the market in the next few hours to grab these phones, but the news of E53 has brought hesitation in the decision.

I intend to buy the iPhone 6S Plus 64 GB from an authorized dealer of Apple here in Karachi, that provides official warranty etc. etc. So I'm not much worried about this and don't intend to be using 3rd party repair-shops for any repairs that might be needed, if any, ever.

However, my sister-in-law is looking to get an iPhone 6S Plus 16 or 64 GB but in used from the open market here in Karachi. Though the price difference is not too much, but it is enough to make a difference. It's approx. $200 cheaper if you go the market and look for used iPhones from resellers (non-authorized), which puts this under her budget.

I've purchased used phones in the past for myself as well as with others, and I'm very careful to make sure nothing suspicious stands out about the phone, like it should come with its box and accessories, no suspicious marks or dents on the phone, etc. And most importantly, I look up the IMEI on various sites to make sure it is not reported stolen. (For example, I needed to buy a phone for my wife and saw a HTC One M9 in perfect condition, but upon research, found it's IMEI blocked in Australia by Telstra indicating it to be stolen... so didn't buy it. {Me moving to the iPhone will allow her to get her hands on the S6 Edge which she loves}).

But with the E53 error... How can we make sure that the phone is not repaired or wouldn't suffer with this issue? Is it just a matter of checking that the phone is on the latest iteration of iOS and check for updates against Apple's servers? Is there an Apple site that provides history for iPhones? And how can we verify, if possible, that a phone isn't repaired or it's TouchID isn't tampered with?

Most importantly, what is the outcome for E53... Does it really brick your iPhone making it a useless chunk of metal and glass? Or does it only disable Touch ID and related features?

Bricks the phone completely. Apple gains a side benefit here as well in that used sales will be impacted. If you cannot physically verify that the unit you are buying isn't already on ios9 and isn't affected, there is a good chance you would get scammed.
Great way to increase sales. Apple has thought of everything.

However, you can get it fixed at an Apple Store, though there may be a price. I'm laughing to myself, you know, that it was a Guardian correspondent who brought this to light. Guardian is the friend of Security above all, the paper that published all the Snowden information, and so on. Well, here's one of the side-effects of all that engineering for security, and they're really angry! There should be a back door so that... Wait. A back door?

As an aside, I wonder how many of these bricked iPhones turn out to be stolen property, where the thief has bypassed the fingerprint sensor (with or without the help of third party repairers) and then sold it in the second-hand market. Caveat emptor.

This is a real issue; I had a replacement iPhone 6 from Apple. Within a week, the TouchID stopped working; AppleCare recommended restoring from iTunes; phone bricked with error 53. My wife had hardly used the phone. Never been repaired. Direct product from Apple. I took it to the Apple Store, was accused of lying - "I'm sorry Sir, you have made an unauthorized repair". 3 hours later, the manager eventually realised I was telling the truth and replaced. AppleCare even gave me a couple of docks as compensation. This is a BUG.

So why would the entire phone require bricking? When you boot the phone TouchID is initially disabled anyway.
From another forum post;
Communication between the
processor and the Touch ID sensor takes place over a serial peripheral interface
bus. The processor forwards the data to the Secure Enclave but cannot read it. It’s
encrypted and authenticated with a session key that is negotiated using the device’s
shared key that is provisioned for the Touch ID sensor and the Secure Enclave.

This is from Apple's document. TouchID can only forward information to Secure Enclave bit cannot access it. And SE can validate TouchID, so if the authentication failed, then iOS fall back to password.

As other people said, there is no reason for Apple to brick the phone entirely.

That's the stinging part. If this was truly about security Apple would have had the lockout in ip5 when touch Id came in. The fact that they are doing it now proves this is a cash grab from their loyal fans.

So this week my sister gave my her iPhone saying she was having trouble updating and asked me to take a look at it. Over the air update gave a generic "An unknown error occurred" so I attempted to update the phone using iTunes and hit error 53. Having to explain that she had given me a working, but out of date iPhone and I was giving her back a completely bricked device was a tough thing to explain and very frustrating for both of us. As far as she's concerned, 6 months ago the screen and touch ID broke following a drop and she had it replaced at a local store because it was convenient and she had no reason to think that she shouldn't do that - it had been working fine and an update has now totally bricked the phone.

We have an appointment at the genius bar next week so it will be interesting to see how that plays out, but if the final word is that there's nothing that can be done, I think that will leave a very very sour taste and I imagine she would switch to another phone manufacturer and never go back to an iPhone. And it's tough to disagree with that course of action.

Well the main reason is that we only know that's the cause of the problem because it's suddenly started being reported on news sites. The error gives no indication that the cause was having previously had the screen replaced nor, interestingly, have Apple said so or even asked us when we've contacted them. If this (and other similar) articles hadn't been published in the last couple of days, we would have no idea why the phone had suddenly been bricked.

Secondly, I doubt the store which did the screen replacement knew either that this would happen. If I were running the store doing the replacements I'd say "Well, we replaced your screen, which is what you asked for, and it's been working fine for the 6 months since we did that. If Apple have decided to brick your device because we did that, you need to take it up with them."

Ha, nonsense. I think you'll find that the contract is between the owner of the phone and the repairer. Apple are not involved in the transaction at all. If the repairer was ignorant of the issues involved, or went ahead regardless, then either the owner or the repairer should be responsible for the cost of a refurbished phone. I'm sure all this will be tested in court… class action lawsuit in 3, 2, 1.

Disabling touch id if tampering of the hardware is detected seems a reasonable precaution but bricking the whole phone just seems spiteful. I think Apple have become so big they do not give two figs about their customers, it is all about keeping the dosh rolling in. The nonsense in all of this is that the check only happens with upgrades not very comforting a bit like the police saying we are only working between 12 and 3 so make sure you commit your crimes then.

It's greed and intent is to push out third party repair. Where are they going to fit a radio to transmit your fingerprints? It's ridiculous. No different then Keurig trying to force their licensed kcups on people. If i want cancer from bpa imitation kcups that's my choice. If I want to risk my thumbprint security from being used. My choice.
It's greed, all that it is.

"Unfortunately, once a "back door" exists, it exists for everyone."
That's a bit sweeping? they don't make you use the fingerprint, or have a lockpin or use apple pay. bricking the phone seems overkill. they just disable apple pay if you choose not to use security otherwise.

That comment was specific to the idea of a security override, not of bricking phones. iPhone 5s would just have Touch ID cease working if it was stopped. The addition of iOS 9 updates causing a brick feels like a bug.

So, if I'm understanding this correctly, any repair done by a third party could trigger this. Is that correct? It seems like this is going to really hurt the independent repair shops out there. If I were the paranoid type, I could say that it could be designed to hurt independent repair shops and conceivably put them out of business. And, given that not every town has an Apple store, these places perform a valuable service. If my phone's screen breaks, why should I be forced to either make a long trip to another city or mail the device off to Apple for repair when there's a local place right down the street that can have me taken care of in an hour?

You're from Alabama too? I'm in Tuscaloosa, and the closest store is in Birmingham. UA has a campus store, and they can do some repairs, but I don't know if they fix iPhones. They certainly don't sell them. However, there are several local repair shops here.

If it is a certified store i think it's ok. I feel you because i live in a country with no apple store abd need a visa to go there so it is highly inconvenient when you buy your iPhone abroad. Though i am glad it's safe and that people don't just have to replace the sensor to get access to my phone

Well I personally wouldn't got to a third party to repair my iPhone especially if Touch ID is tampered with, I only trust Apple with repairs as they are the ones who made Touch ID and price don't matter to me as I know Apple will put their seal of quality on it even on repairs, now that Apple has commented now hopefully all of this nonsense is put to bed now.

Our local third party repair shop wanted £125 to repair the screen on my daughters iPhone 6. We got it replaced for £80 at the Apple Store which is about 25 miles away. If this is what third party stores offer I won't miss them.

I got the impression that if you replaced the Touch ID, it would not work, because it only will work with that phone's chip, and no other. You can not replace the chip. The only thing you have is a home button, that is it.

Not really, I am an Itech (Icracked affiliate ) and besides us using the best certified quality parts, we transfer key components like the home button to the new display. This will prevent for error 53 to happen. If we do damage the phone or your fingerprint sensor, we will replace your phone!

Lets do an experiment:
Imagine an alternative universe where this "error" did not show up. And in that universe, someone popular got their iPhone stolen, and someone tampered that iPhone's hardware, hacked into it and leaked nude pictures of the owner/owner's wife on the internet. And because Apple and google are so popular in that universe as well, a lot of people googled this stuff and checked out the nude pics.

Now, in that universe, what would ALCingularUser have commented? would ALCingularUser have said he/she would have gladly travelled 100 miles in case of a rare mishap, rather than every single iPhone user risking loosing personal information on a daily basis? or would he/she have commented something else? could you please participate in this experiment?